Longtime Sonoma County planning official Scott Orr has been named the new director of Permit Sonoma, the county’s planning department. Orr had been serving as interim director since July, when former Permit Sonoma director Tennis Wick announced his retirement.
Orr has been with Permit Sonoma for nearly a decade, beginning as an entry level planner processing permits, going on to become Deputy Director in 2020, according to a Permit Sonoma announcement.
Scott Orr, who has worked through the ranks of Sonoma County’s permit and planning department, has been named the director of Permit Sonoma.
Sonoma County Chief Executive Christina Rivera highlighted Orr’s knowledge and temperament in expressing her confidence in his ability to lead the department into the future. “He is deeply familiar with the nuances of the planning and permitting world, and he knows all of the major projects that Permit Sonoma has undertaken,” said Rivera in the announcement. “He was recently elected vice president of the California County Planning Directors Association, so he clearly has the respect of his colleagues.”
Orr is tasked with overseeing the county’s consolidated land use planning and development permitting agency, where any land development or construction in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County is reviewed, permitted and inspected. The department includes Code Enforcement, Engineering and Construction, Fire Prevention, Natural Resources, and Planning divisions.
Orr has a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and an undergraduate degree in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, county officials said.
